Illuminated sign



G. R. FRE-ZY ET AL ILLUMINATED S IGN Filed Feb. l0. 1933 April 3, 1934..

Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES mLmvnNA'rEn SIGN George R. Frey and Willard A. Maxwell, Springfield, Oreg., assignors to J. F. Harlow Application February 10, 1933, Serial No. 656,170

1 Claim. (Cl. 40-130) Our invention relates to illuminated signs and particularly to those employed for advertising purposes.

It is the purposeof our invention to provide a sign of the type specified wherein one sign element can be removed and replaced by another of different display with a minimum of eiort and without the employment of skilled labor.

A further purpose of our invention is the provision of a sign ofthe type specified which employs a sign element of light transmitting material, such as glass, and wherein the light from a suitable source is diffused solely through the edge of the element.

With the above and other purposes in view our invention embodies the details of construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing chosen to illustrate our invention, the scope whereof is set forth in the appended claim Figure 1 is a front elevation of an illuminated sign constructed inaccordance with our invention;

Figure 2, a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3, a fragmental view looking at the inner side of the front frame, the rear frame being removed.

Referring to the drawing our invention is shown as comprising a rear frame 10 and a front frame 11 hinged together at 12 so that the front frame 11 can be moved to and from imposition upon the rear frame 10, while the latter is carried by a suitable support. A latch 13 serves to lock the frames in superimposed relation. The 'frame 1l is provided with an inwardly directed marginal flange 14`which forms a pocket 15 ex tending entirely around the frame, said flange engaging the frame 10 when the frames are disposed one upon the other. The sign tobe displayed is disposed in the pocket 15 and is formed of two glass sheets 16 and'17 of corresponding dimensions, one upon the other withtheir edges flush. The combined thickness of the sheets 18 and 17 is substantially equal to the depth of the pocket 15. The advertising design, indicated at 18, is painted or otherwise superimposed upon the front face of the sheet 17 so as to be conned between the sheets, it having been discovered that with the design so located with respect to the sheets 16 and 17 it will be displayed to better advantage, when our sign is illuminated, than would be the case if located otherwise. The

sheets 16 and 17 are held against lateral disdisposed in the pocket 15 in the plane of the sheets 16 and 17. For purposes of safety a metallic channel member Z0 opening against the ad' jacent edges of the sheets 16 and 17 is mounted in the pocket 15 and the tube'19 in turn mounted in the channel member. From the structure just described itv will be obvious that all the light produced by the tube 19 is transmitted through the edges of the sheets 16 and 17. The tube 19 may extend completely around the sheets 16 and 17 or partially around the same, it being a minimum requirement however,.that the tube 19 extend entirely along at least one of the corresponding edges of each sheet.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that should it be desired to change the display of the sign it is only necessary to release the latch 13 and swing and hold the frame 11 to and in horizontal position. The sheet 17 can then be easily lifted out and a similar sheet with a different display inserted. The frame 11 is then swung into imposition upon the frame 10 and latched to the latter.

While we have shown the sign element formed of two sheets 16 and 17 a single 'sheet with the display imposed on the rear face thereof could be utilized if desired without departing from the spirit of certain features of our invention.

We claim:

1n an illuminated sign, a rear frame adapted to be supported from a fixed member, a front frame hinged to the rear frame for movement to and from imposition thereon, said front frame having a marginal flange whose iree edge engages the front face of the rear frame when said frames pegs carried by the front frame inwardly of the neon tube for engaging the edges of a sheet in the pocket to hold the sheet against lateral displacement, said pegs permitting sheets to be free ly removed from and positioned in said pocket, when the front frame is swung away from the rear frame, without manipulation of the pegs or other elements in effecting said removal and positioning of sheets in the pocket.

GEORGE R. FREY. WILLARD A. MAXWELL. 

